The San Diego City Council has approved a long-needed overhaul of our on-street parking policies—reforms that will help manage curb space more effectively, improve parking availability, and reinvest revenue into neighborhood improvements like sidewalks, streetlights, and safer crossings. 

This comprehensive update to street parking comes after more than a year of detailed analysis and community engagement. The City worked with consultants and stakeholders to examine best practices from across California to bring our policies and pricing up to date with the needs of a growing city. 

For more than 20 years, our parking meter rates have remained unchanged—even as demand for parking surged and infrastructure needs grew. That left us with outdated pricing that didn’t reflect the true value of curb space. Our newly approved framework allows for flexible “dynamic pricing,” a tool already used in many cities. It lets us adjust meter rates based on demand—like during special events or in high-traffic areas—so parking is more available when and where people need it most. 

Other key changes include adjusting meter enforcement times to account for high-demand evening and weekend periods in areas flagged by the parking use study, modernizing valet and construction parking permit fees to properly value curb space, and significantly improving transparency in how Community Parking Districts manage and spend meter revenue. Importantly, any expansion of meter enforcement will include outreach and developing solutions for residents who rely on street parking due to limited off-street options. 

It’s worth emphasizing: By law, Parking meter revenue must be used to improve transportation infrastructure (like streets), parking access, and mobility solutions in the neighborhoods where it’s collected. 

These reforms help us reinvest in our communities and help us meet the needs of a growing city delivering visible, local improvements for the San Diegans who live, work, and shop here. 

After 15 years of costly litigation, the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have reached a historic settlement,  ending all outstanding legal disputes and ushering in a new era of collaboration. 

This agreement brings long-needed stability and certainty to how San Diego pays for delivery of conserved Colorado River water—something our region has invested in for decades to ensure a reliable, independent water supply. Instead of tying the price to Metropolitan’s rates, the new agreement sets a predictable fixed price that adjusts only for inflation. This not only helps us manage our budget more effectively; it also reduces the risk of future legal conflict and opens the door to greater regional cooperation. 

For San Diego, it creates new opportunities to provide water to other Southern California communities that need it, ensuring we get the full benefit of the wise investments we made years ago and avoiding future spikes in water rates. This is why it was important for me to get this across the finish line. 

Thanks to the leadership of Water Authority Chair Nick Serrano, who also serves as my Deputy Chief of Staff, plus former Chair Mel Katz, and their partners at Metropolitan, this settlement reflects what’s possible when we move beyond conflict and focus on shared goals. 

This is a win for San Diego ratepayers, a win for the region, and a strong step forward for water reliability across Southern California. 

Alongside community leaders and veterans, I spoke out against the disgraceful decision to rename the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk, a ship built in San Diego and named to honor a Navy veteran who gave his life in the fight for equality. 

This isn’t just a slap in the face to the LGBTQ+ community; it’s a waste of time and taxpayer money. At a moment when Americans are struggling with the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty, this is what some in Washington, D.C., want to focus on? Renaming a ship that symbolizes progress, dignity, and service? 

San Diego is a proud military town. We honor our servicemembers, including LGBTQ+ veterans who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms. Harvey Milk served our country with honor. The decision to erase his name during Pride Month is shameful, and it will not stand uncontested. 

We’re facing real challenges that demand real leadership. Renaming this ship does nothing to help working families, improve national security, or support our troops. It’s politics at its worst—divisive, wasteful, and wrong. 

San Diego will always honor Harvey Milk. And we will always stand with those who’ve fought to serve openly and proudly. We’re not going backward. 

Which of the following strange-but-true things happened in San Diego in the early 1900s? 

A) A rainmaker was hired by the City—and it actually rained 
B) A hotel was built entirely out of adobe and melted during a storm 
C) A man tried to launch a submarine as a tourist attraction in Mission Bay 

I’ll give you the answer in next week’s newsletter and let you know how many San Diegans got it right!